A dangerous resolve—

The Christian resolve
to find the world ugly and bad
has made the world ugly and bad.

–excerpt The Gay Science, Book 3, Section 130 by Friedrich Nietzsche

Against Christianity—

What is now decisive
against Christianity is our taste,
no longer our reasons.

–excerpt The Gay Science, Book 3, Section 133 by Friedrich Nietzsche

Perhaps the most well known aspect of Nietzsche’s writings is his anti-Christianity view point.  Nietzsche understood better than most that the intellectual life of the West is conditioned by the Christian ethos.  It is unnecessary to subscribe personally, to dedicate oneself to membership within a Christian community to be affected by the tenants of Christianity.  There is no escape, no alternative even should one aspire to a naturalistic or a more secular mindset.  To live in the West is to imbibe the basic assumptions as if with our mother’s milk.

The first quotation points to the dangerous consequences of asserting that “the world” is a fallen, morally flawed, corrupt venue.  Why so dangerous?  Where else are we going to find our habitation, other than this world, and by all that it affords?  There is no other world, no “more spiritual” less defiled context for human endeavor.  This is it !  Nothing more can be added.

The second quotation highlights the tasteless quality of the Christian ethos.  Since the publishing of The Gay Science in 1887 this has not changed.  The protestant mega-churches which mimic a corporate model of organization are mirror images of our sterile anxiety ridden society.  These organizations offer a myriad of band-aid remedies, pablum for the financially fortunate to assuage the widespread discontent, that “waking in the night with a fear so real” among those who possess too much.

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How could we live without music?  This tune by one of the great song-smiths of our time will accompany us through this fine day!  Badlands by Bruce Springsteen:

This is what we need, and all that we need!